Posted!

Join the Conversation

Comments

Welcome to our new and improved comments, which are for subscribers only.
This is a test to see whether we can improve the experience for you.
You do not need a Facebook profile to participate.

You will need to register before adding a comment.
Typed comments will be lost if you are not logged in.

Please be polite.
It's OK to disagree with someone's ideas, but personal attacks, insults, threats, hate speech, advocating violence and other violations can result in a ban.
If you see comments in violation of our community guidelines, please report them.

Centennial hurdling star heads to University of Iowa

Ankeny Centennial hurdler and Iowa track and field commit Katie Petersen should be in state meet preparation mode at this time.

The universe had other plans, though.

Buy Photo

Centennial senior and star hurdler Katie Petersen competes in a 100-meter hurdle preliminary race April 26, 2019 at the Drake Relays. Petersen won four medals at the state meet in 2019 and was expected to take home more medals this year before the COVID-19 pandemic hit Iowa.(Photo: MICHAEL ROLANDS/RECORD-HERALD)

Petersen, along with most student athletes across the country competing in a spring sport, saw her senior season fall through after the spread of COVID-19 forced schools to shut down for the year.

“Something I was looking forward to was being able to walk off the track for my high school career one last time with those teammates, and now I don’t get to do that,” Petersen said. “That was hard… But I know there are other people who have lost bigger things at this time than track season and school, so I’m fortunate I’m still healthy and my family’s still healthy.”

Petersen entered 2020 as one of the state’s top hurdlers. She helped break four Centennial records, won four medals at the 2019 state meet, and she was poised for what would have likely been a stellar senior campaign before the track season came to a screeching halt.

Ankeny Centennial hurdler Katie Petersen is here on her recruiting visit to the University of Iowa in October 2019. Petersen committed to the Hawekeys Oct. 22, 2019 to run with their track program.(Photo: Katie Petersen/Special to the Register)

“I really can’t think of being a part of a more special program,” Petersen said. “We have our own tradition and it’s truly like a family. Everybody pushes each other and supports each other. Definitely something I wish I could have been a part of a little bit longer.”

In the meantime, Petersen spends her days volunteering at the Animal Rescue League, completing online AP classes, and working out as though she’s in the midst of a track season. It’s a grind, but she’s built for it, according to Centennial track and field coach Drew Kruzich.

“She’s really self-made, in a lot of ways,” he said. “She’s got some raw ability, but she works year-round to get better, and it shows.”

Petersen was a gymnast first before diving head-first into track her freshman season at Centennial. Injuries derailed her first season, but she made strides as a sophomore before winning four medals at the 2019 state meet as a junior.

“She made significant improvement to her starts and everything,” Kruzich said. “I think she’s not only missing out on a season, but I think she had a real good shot at a couple of titles this year at Drake and state, which is unfortunate.”

But while Petersen’s time on the track at Centennial ended prematurely, her athletic career is far from over.

Petersen will don a Hawkeye uniform this upcoming school year, as she’s set to join the University of Iowa track and field team. Led by head coach Joey Woody, both the men’s and women’s programs at Iowa ranked in the top 20 this season.

“The coaches are really good, and Coach Woody has a really good history of his athletes and coaching them, progress, and everything,” Petersen said.

Iowa got wind of Petersen after she competed with USA Track and Field in the summer of 2019. As the year went on, she got to know Woody and the rest of the Hawkeye track and field coaching staff before making it official.

On Oct. 23, 2019, Petersen committed to Iowa.

“I liked the whole atmosphere and environment and I really liked how I could see (myself) on my visit,” she said. “The coaches, they have a family environment.”

Aside from running track, Petersen said she plans on majoring in human physiology and will likely add a second major, too.